Fairfield City Leaders Condemn Mike Lunsford's Effigy of Obama

City and school district leaders have "condemned" the actions of a Fairfield resident who last week hung Barack Obama in effigy from a tree by a noose. [SOURCE]

Mike Lunsford said he hung the ghost in his front yard as a Halloween decoration and later decided to write "Hussain" in green marker on it. Lunsford also attached part of a campaign yard sign with Obama's last name to his ghost decoration.

"I just disagree with his views," Lunsford said of Obama. "I am a white man and I want to see a Christian that supports my values (as president)."

Fairfield police received calls from neighbors and passersby but decided Lunsford had not committed any crime.

Fairfield Police Chief Mike Dickey said that — after a Secret Service investigation — it was determined there was no threat to a presidential candidate. The display also is protected under the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, he said.

However, the city's mayor, city council and Fairfield school district leaders decided to speak out against Lunsford's display.

In an e-mail on Monday, Oct. 20, school district Superintendent Cathy Milligan and Fairfield school board President Mark Morris wrote, "Standing up against racism makes Fairfield a better place for our employees to work and for our students to learn and grow."

Mayor Ron D'Epifanio, along with city council members, wanted people to know they do not agree with Lunsford's display. In a statement issued on Monday, the mayor and city council members said: "This individual's isolated opinion, as depicted in a yard display, does not represent the values of our community."

I'm glad to see local officials taking on this racist fool.

I hope that his employer steps up as well! What does it say to African American co-workers and customers to have Mike Lunsford working with them? Can they ever trust that this man will treat them with respect and dignity after seeing what he is publically doing in his front yard?

Police Remove Obama Effigy from Mike Lunsford's Lynching Tree

Mike Lunsford took the effigy of Barack Obama down from his front yard lynching tree this morning at the request of the local police. The ghost still sits on Mike Lunsford's Fairfield front yard. The rope still hangs from the tree in front of the Symmes Road duplex.

Not surprisingly, Lunsford's family said some people had threatened him over the display. I wonder what they expected when they brought fresh thought to the idea of public lynchings in America?

The ghost has "Hussain" written in green ink on the front, referring to Obama's middle name, Hussein.

Lunsford said he might put it back up again soon.

When News 5's Karin Johnson asked if the display was political or racist, Lunsford said it was a political statement. But when pressed, Johnson said Lunsford admitted it might be racist, too.

How can John McCain and Sarah Palin sleep at night knowing the results of the silent dog whistle that their campaign is sending to racists in Ohio, Oregon and elsewhere?